I just heard about this on the radio here yesterday, I think the fish here came from lakes in the Wrangle St. Elias area but don't quote me at that. Being from Pennsylvania originally I'm accustomed to 'advisory' notifications in regard to consumption of fish.

Being far removed from any level of knowledge regarding these occurrences I have to guess that they are the result of a natural phenomenon or of rains leaching the mercury from soils.

Think Ard's got it right in his last sentence. We have a couple of large lakes her in Southern Oregon where (right in the fishing regulation book) you are advised not to eat caught fish or at least limit the consumption.

I just heard about this on the radio here yesterday, I think the fish here came from lakes in the Wrangle St. Elias area but don't quote me at that. Being from Pennsylvania originally I'm accustomed to 'advisory' notifications in regard to consumption of fish.

Being far removed from any level of knowledge regarding these occurrences I have to guess that they are the result of a natural phenomenon or of rains leaching the mercury from soils.

I'm sure it is also since any mines that exist in these areas are little 1 person digs. It just gives the Feds more excuses to throw more regs out to shut down a area. A advisory on eating is fine.

"Mercury in Maine freshwater fish may harm the babies of pregnant and nursing mothers, and young children.

Pregnant and nursing women, women who may get pregnant, and children under age 8 SHOULD NOT EAT ANY freshwater fish from Maine’s inland waters. Except for brook trout and landlocked salmon, one meal per month is safe.
All other adults and children older than 8 CAN EAT two freshwater fish meals per month. For brook trout and landlocked salmon, the limit is one meal per week."

• Pregnant and nursing women, and women who may become pregnant can safely eat ONE, 8-ounce meal of freshwater fish per month.

• Children under age 7 can safely eat ONE, 4-ounce meal of freshwater fish per month.

• All other adults and children age 7 and older can safely eat FOUR, 8-ounce meals of freshwater fish per month.

• When eating bass, pickerel, white perch or yellow perch, limit consumption to fish 12 inches or less in length while following the above guidelines.

Stocked trout contains relatively low levels of mercury. For rainbow and brown trout, women of childbearing age and children can safely eat ONE meal per week; others can eat SIX meals per week. Brook trout could be either stocked or from a native population, and therefore should be consumed at the rate of the general freshwater advisory above."

At my age I don't worry about a little Mercury in my trout, but in reality, I doubt that I've kept more than 6 trout since 1971. I just don't care for the taste, just love to fish with the peace I find out there.